G. True Nelson: Former Deputy Sheriff, Military Officer, FBI Special Agent, and Security Consultant / Private Investigator. He currently resides in the Portland, Oregon Metro area. He is a writer on crime and judicial process; as well as discussing his personal observations on American culture and social mores.

RETURN

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Now that I have offended much of the French populace, I
might add that they shouldn’t really concern themselves with my personal
opinion because many Americans wish we were just like the French. And, quite a few of our political leaders are
moving us, gradually you understand, in that direction. Soon we too will have mercenaries fighting
our battles. It’s really cheaper in the
long run and many Americans can’t be bothered with the mundaneness of
self-reliance and self-protection – certainly not any dangerous military
service.

Oh, what about the U.S. Second Amendment to the
Constitution? No problem there. Our Supreme Court can just fine tune it a
little, reinterpret what it means; and, that’s that, it can be placed on a
dusty book shelf.

Let’s see… My Second Theory regarding the courageous actions
of Stone, Skarlatos and Sadler: Well, it
has to do with their familiarity with guns.

Guns are after all inanimate, mechanical objects or
basically tools. My contention is that
the more you know about a tool, even a dangerous tool, the more comfortable you
become using it – being around it.

Example: You are in a
public place, suddenly accosted by an obviously distraught, possibly deranged person
waving a chainsaw around and endangering people, even children. The chainsaw is loud and scary. What type of individual, excepting an armed
police officer, would be the most likely to intervene and attempt to neutralize
this dangerous person? I would think it
would be someone who was familiar with chainsaws, perhaps even utilized a
chainsaw on a daily basis. Why? Because that individual understands that
chainsaws can be dangerous, but that they do have limitations. He would look for that brief moment of
weakness, either on the part of the person operating the chainsaw or the chainsaw
itself. He would not, in other words, be
frozen in a state of inaction; or feel his only option is to run.

What does that have to do with the incident on the
train? Perhaps that particular incident,
and their particular reaction, had something to do with Skarlatos, Stone and Sadler’s
familiarity with guns. Both Skarlatos
and Stone were known to have some military training. But I would also venture that Skarlatos,
Stone and Sadler had some previous experience with guns as hunters, target
shooters, etc.

I’ve been around people who were frightened to even touch a
gun, for fear they would inadvertently do something in handling a gun that
would cause it to harm them or someone else – as if the gun was alive and had a
mind of its own – much like one might treat a poisonous snake.

The French have very strict gun control laws governing
ownership and use. Gun ownership and use
is not part of their culture or their traditions.

Perhaps I’m wrong about the three Americans. I suppose we’d have to ask them. I’d like to know how experienced Stone,
Skarlatos and Sadler are with guns. Do
they own guns? Did they grow up with
guns?

I did and many of my friends did. Would any of us have the courage to confront
a terrorist? I don’t know.

I’ve had considerable training and experience with weapons (guns),
particularly in the FBI. One thing that
I believe I would quickly recognize is how proficient is this person with his
weapon, as well as what are the limitations of this particular weapon. Those observations would be my deciding factors as to how
best to react.

Three Laws for Effective Gun Control

Here are three potential laws that I would recommend for effective gun control:

1) Convicted felon in possession of a gun: automatic three years in prison - no judicial discretion - no chance for parole.

2) Knowingly selling or furnishing a gun to a convicted felon: automatic three years in prison - no judicial discretion - no chance for parole.

3) Theft of a gun, during the commission of a felony: automatic three years in prison - no judicial discretion - no chance for parole - sentence in addition to any time associated with the attendant felony.